Modernity, Discourse and Power - Essay Example

Media Journal Name Institution Media Journal Week 2: Ideology Ideology is a set of beliefs that are shared among a group of people in a community or a nation. Members who share these beliefs have common ideas that guide their interpretations of events and monitor their social practices. Some of the ideas shared by these people includes social, religious, political and sexism. Ideology may be negative or positive depending on the goals of the members composing the group. A negative concept of ideology is where misguided beliefs are inculcated by the ruling class which has the means and material production to ensure that the ruling class continues dominating in every field at the expense of the citizens who sells their labor to sustain their life. A positive ideology ensures there is social equality through opposition against domination. Pacific standard show the role played by Jewish Senators in U.S in endorsing the same sex marriage. The law was backed by more liberal senators. Jewish being among members of the liberal was considered to have supported the idea. Their coalition with the democrats affected their politics as people vote along coalition lines. References Croteau, D., & Hoynes, W. (2005) Media society: Industries, images, and audiences. Princeton, N.J: Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic, pp, 156-168. Seth Masket The Pacific Standardwww.psmag.com/politics-and-law/what-is-ideology-democrats-republicans-evangelical-christians-63939 2015 Week 3: Modernity, Discourse and Power Economic and social transformations within the society are referred as modernity. They generate problems related to time and open the society to criticism from the members of the public. Discourse is the discussion or speech that is given in the public. The means through which these speeches are addressed has resulted in social inequalities and injustices based on race, gender and class as they are always controlled by bureaucrats, journalist or politicians through influencing information disseminated to the public. Power is the ability to control one group over the other and is demonstrated today by influencing the minds of the masses through capturing semiotic dimensions of public discourse. An example of this was demonstrated when Tony Blair the Prime minister of UK legitimized the war against Iraq. In his debate, he got much attention in the press as well as from academic analyst from different disciplines. Using his power, he was able to manipulate the Parliament and polarize the efforts of the opposition by terming them as opportunistic. Members of his political party had to compel with that decision which risked the lives of the citizen as Iraq would fight back hurting the UK citizens. References Danaher, G., Webb, J., & Schirato, T. (2000) Understanding Foucault. St. Leonards, NSW, Australia: Allen & Unwin, , pp 30-45. http://www.bloomsbury.com/us/language-and-power-9781441104175/ http://www.geotek.or.id/Discourse/Discourse%20and%20Power.pdf https://analepsis.files.wordpress.com/2013/08/hall-west-the-rest.pdf http://images.nexto.pl/upload/publisher/All%20Free%20Media/public/the_development_of_coca-cola_advertising_campaigns_%281886-2007%29_demo.pdf Week 4: Images, Power and Politics. The art of designing images to convey special messages is a widely used method to get information to the target audience in a relaxed and well established manner. Posters bearing the pictures and slogans of candidates during the eve of an election are common images along the street in a strategically located point to get the attention and convey the message. Businesses advertise their products by displaying posters to as one of way for advertising. The New York Times demonstrates some poster dated 1936 by Herbert H. Lehman and Franklin D. Roosevelt who were then governors advocating for the abolition of child labor, social security and a five day work week. Poster of communist party for president who championed equal right for all citizen, simple screen prints opposing Vietnam War and the one featuring Richard J. Daley who fought government effort to suppress protest have the power to influence the masses. References Allmark, C. V. (2012). Rebel of Burma: The autobiography of Constance Veronica Allmark. Lynwood, W.A: UsForOz. http://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/31/arts/design/seeing-the-power-of-political-posters.html?_r=0 http://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/04/opinion/the-power-of-precise-predictions.html Week 5: Nationalism Nationalism is a sense of identity to a nation, arising from the belief that members of a nation shares similar interest that are important than any other interest that may arise between different groups where members may belong. Nations are usually created bourgeoisie whose interests demanded creation of single market and single government creating conditions for thriving of capitalists who control wealth in their economies. Nationalism encouraged people to fight against superstition and tyrannical monarchy. Nationalism was evident in the US after the attack on Twin Towers on September 2001. Nationals began commemorating their loved through flying American flag at the car antennae, others wore it on T –shirts whereas celebrities organized benefit concerts. People conveyed at towns and donated blood while posting tributes to the dead and share grief with the others. Across US, people attended impromptu candle light vigils and participated in the moment of silence. This shows that the act of terrorism had made them resolve their difference and demonstrate their nationalism. References Avraham, B, & First. M., (2006). Nationalism. New York: Basic Books, pp. 71-86. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GULSh9WeLc0 http://directaction.org.au/issue9/what_is_nationalism Week 6: Race and Otherness Racism is unfair treatment of the others solely based on their differences from other groups in color, race, appearance and the different cultural practices. Those who are minority and do not fit in the majority group sharing those characteristics are considered to be the “others.” Racism may be direct like when someone may not secure a job for because of her race or may be indirectly revealed when a policy treats everyone in the same way but has an unfair effect on some people of a particular race. The Film ‘12 years a slave” released in 2013 is an adaptation of a slave narrative by Solomon Northup, an African-American who was kidnapped in Washington DC in 1841 and sold into slavery. He worked in the cotton plantation for twelve year and was also physically assorted by his master together with the other slaves they had been captured together. Ford and Epp practices racism discriminate. References Akito , S. (2006). The bell curve wars: Race, intelligence, and the future of America. New York: BasicBooks, pp 57-67. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5Z-yghLz1k Week 7: Post (Studies) In todays’ world, first degree is not often considered as important but essential. A large number of people have enrolled in different post studies to increase their academic knowledge. The dynamic of the today’s world and the increasing urge among the human to know their environment has seen an increase in the number of people in the post studies. In the industry, the academic qualifications have also increased as the employers look for employees who can deal with the emerging issues and the dynamics of the 21st century. This trend has seen a large number of graduate take post studies to advance their studies. The study of the evolution of man is one of the major areas that attract post graduates. Figure (1) show an art developed by a post studies student. The art demonstrates various stages involved in the evolutions stages of a man. However, the same trend is observed in other fields such as engineering and business studies. References Lucy (2010) Cultural studies. New York: Routledge, pp 57-67. Figure 1 Week 8: Globalization Globalization is a global process that involves transfer of knowledge, cultural integration, and transfer of policies across boarders and cultural stability. The end effect of globalization is easily manifested in the transportation sector where steam locomotive, jet engine, containerships and steamship have been launched. In the telecommunication industry, the internet, mobile phones and the telegraph has made communication very easy making the world a global village. This has enhanced trade due to increased market for commodities. It has enhanced migration of people as a result of business activities and has enhance the dissemination of crucial information on technological changes necessary in production so as to achieve goods of higher quality at a more affordable cost. Currently, integrating internet marketing and use of online means of payment for goods bought has greatly boosted the manufacturing companies’ sales volume. This is because customers have a wide variety of products to choose from and eliminates need for travelling. Globalization has come with issues of concern including global warming which has resulted in change of weather pattern with day time temperatures being very high, heavy rainfall resulting in heavy floods, increased air pollution resulting in increase of respiratory diseases. References Ritzer, G. (2012). Globalization: the essentials. Chichester: Wiley-Blackwell. Pp 85-100 http://sociology.emory.edu/faculty/globalization/issues01.html https://www.polity.co.uk/global/whatisglobalization.asp http://www.globalization101.org/what-is-globalization/ Week 9: Environment and consumption Population and peoples purchasing power are increasing nearly at the same rate so is the rate of waste generated. Taking this into account, consumers need to be cautious on the impact generated by the product we use on our environment so that we don’t damage the environment as well as compromise the future generation. Material used in provision of energy is of importance in determining the rate of consumption so as to determine the level of environmental impact. From a survey conducted in the US, citizens consume17 tones of natural resources per person per year and generates an even higher volume of wastes including domestic wastes, mining, industrial and agricultural waste which are released into the rivers, atmosphere, landfilled and a small portion is recycled. The research shows that the population is increasing in the whole world and the environmental impact of mass consumption for resources use and environmental waste dumping is alarming. This should trigger people to devise theories of economic consumptions of resources as this rate will deplete some resource such as fossil fuel and cause a negative environmental impact through global warming habitat change and resource competition due to water and land use. References Dauvergne, P. (2012). Handbook of global environmental politics. Cheltenham, UK: Edward Elgar. Pp3-17;19-31. http://www.unep.org/resourcepanel/Portals/24102/PDFs/PriorityProductsAndMaterials_Report.pdf www.ase.tufts.edu/gdae/publications/frontier_series/Consum-Pt8.pdf. Week 10: Gender, Youth and Desire The issues of gender, youth and desire have emerging in todays’ world. Gender defines a person sex; either a female or male. The term youth has been used to define people between the ages of 18 to 35 years. A desire is what an individual want or would wish to possess or own. Young people have some distinct desires that are clear to observe. The desires however differ from the one gender to another. A large number of the young people desire to have expensive lifestyle and material wealth such as good jobs, good home, big vehicles and estates. This desire is more evident in the young people. On the other hand, young ladies desire to have, love, stable family and children. A large number of modern young songs are based on marriage, love and material wealth prosperity. In the song ‘Chop My Money” the artists portrays people living in expensive lifestyle and enjoying life with their lovers. In addition, the song indicates that young ladies are attracted to people with wealth as they regarded money with stable family and bright future. References Orlebar, J. C. (2011). John orlebar, clk. [a novel.] by the author of "culmshire folk" [james. Place of publication not identified: British Library, Historic. Pp63-77 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wlvYil4HVa8 Read More

Nationalism was evident in the US after the attack on Twin Towers on September 2001. Nationals began commemorating their loved through flying American flag at the car antennae, others wore it on T –shirts whereas celebrities organized benefit concerts. People conveyed at towns and donated blood while posting tributes to the dead and share grief with the others. Across US, people attended impromptu candle light vigils and participated in the moment of silence. This shows that the act of terrorism had made them resolve their difference and demonstrate their nationalism.

References Avraham, B, & First. M., (2006). Nationalism. New York: Basic Books, pp. 71-86. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GULSh9WeLc0 http://directaction.org.au/issue9/what_is_nationalism Week 6: Race and Otherness Racism is unfair treatment of the others solely based on their differences from other groups in color, race, appearance and the different cultural practices. Those who are minority and do not fit in the majority group sharing those characteristics are considered to be the “others.

” Racism may be direct like when someone may not secure a job for because of her race or may be indirectly revealed when a policy treats everyone in the same way but has an unfair effect on some people of a particular race. The Film ‘12 years a slave” released in 2013 is an adaptation of a slave narrative by Solomon Northup, an African-American who was kidnapped in Washington DC in 1841 and sold into slavery. He worked in the cotton plantation for twelve year and was also physically assorted by his master together with the other slaves they had been captured together.

Ford and Epp practices racism discriminate. References Akito , S. (2006). The bell curve wars: Race, intelligence, and the future of America. New York: BasicBooks, pp 57-67. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5Z-yghLz1k Week 7: Post (Studies) In todays’ world, first degree is not often considered as important but essential. A large number of people have enrolled in different post studies to increase their academic knowledge. The dynamic of the today’s world and the increasing urge among the human to know their environment has seen an increase in the number of people in the post studies.

In the industry, the academic qualifications have also increased as the employers look for employees who can deal with the emerging issues and the dynamics of the 21st century. This trend has seen a large number of graduate take post studies to advance their studies. The study of the evolution of man is one of the major areas that attract post graduates. Figure (1) show an art developed by a post studies student. The art demonstrates various stages involved in the evolutions stages of a man.

However, the same trend is observed in other fields such as engineering and business studies. References Lucy (2010) Cultural studies. New York: Routledge, pp 57-67. Figure 1 Week 8: Globalization Globalization is a global process that involves transfer of knowledge, cultural integration, and transfer of policies across boarders and cultural stability. The end effect of globalization is easily manifested in the transportation sector where steam locomotive, jet engine, containerships and steamship have been launched.

In the telecommunication industry, the internet, mobile phones and the telegraph has made communication very easy making the world a global village. This has enhanced trade due to increased market for commodities. It has enhanced migration of people as a result of business activities and has enhance the dissemination of crucial information on technological changes necessary in production so as to achieve goods of higher quality at a more affordable cost. Currently, integrating internet marketing and use of online means of payment for goods bought has greatly boosted the manufacturing companies’ sales volume.

This is because customers have a wide variety of products to choose from and eliminates need for travelling.

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